"Judging the medic symbol on your armor. Here is my best advice regarding cooking." "It's like chemistry, each ingredient contributions to the overall flavor and texture of the meal." "Would that make sense to you?"

"It can be more flexible, yes." "But how you mentioned that pasta, with it catching fire. Think about how you weren't precise enough to prevent a fire." "How much water was used? And how big were the pasta noodles? What was the temperature of the heat?"

"That would explain it." She didn't have any judgment in her tone. It was sympathetic.

"Now you know." She said with a grin, "But the salt isn't always needed. That is a preference. That aside, we'll be focused on stew base recipes in your first lesson." "That's because since we are in the field often, most meals being cooked. If we get the luxury, it is stews."

"It's simple, really." "All you need is a fire, water, and whatever ingredients and seasonings are available. Get the water to simmer, add in the ingredients one by one, and the seasoning." "Let it cook for a bit, and there, ya got some stew on your hands."

"Yep." "And it's usually better than the standard rations, especially if we can trade with planetary farmers for meat and vegetables."

"Once you get the hang of that, I'll teach you other recipes."

"Do you have a comlink?" "I understand most troopers tend to not own any personal items. But if you got a means for communication, I can upload my info. And you can contact me once ya get the hang of the stew."